Developer cartridge provided with gear having engagement portions

ABSTRACT

A developer cartridge may include: a first gear having a small-diameter gear portion and a large-diameter gear portion; and a second gear including: a first columnar portion centered on a second axis; a second columnar portion having a smaller diameter than the first columnar portion; a first engagement portion extending along a portion of a peripheral surface of the first columnar portion and engageable with the small-diameter gear portion; a second engagement portion extending along a portion of a peripheral surface of the second columnar portion and positioned closer to a housing than the first engagement portion in an axial direction and engageable with the large-diameter gear portion; and a protruding portion protruding in the axial direction and rotatable together with the first engagement portion and the second engagement portion. The second engagement portion may engage the large-diameter gear portion after the first engagement portion engages the small-diameter gear portion.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/089,923,filed Nov. 5, 2020, which is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 16/517,901, filed Jul. 22, 2019, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,983,456,which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/915,294,filed Mar. 8, 2018, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,365,582, which is acontinuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/407,857, filed Jan.17, 2017, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,952,535, which is a continuation ofInternational Application No. PCT/JP2015/080812 filed on Oct. 30, 2015which claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2015-197202filed Oct. 2, 2015. The entire contents of the earlier applications areincorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a developer cartridge thataccommodates developer therein.

BACKGROUND

Conventionally, there is known in the art a developer cartridgeincluding a detection protrusion that can be in contact with an actuatorprovided at a housing of an image-forming apparatus, and a detectiongear including the detection protrusion (for example, refer to JapanesePatent Publication No. 4848632). Specifically, in this art, thedetection protrusion pushes the actuator when the developer cartridge isattached to the image-forming apparatus, and when a drive force is inputto the cartridge thereafter, rotation of the detection gear causes thedetection protrusion to push the actuator further and then to move awayfrom the actuator. Further, in this art, the number of detectionprotrusions varies according to the specification of the developercartridge. With this structure, how many times the actuator is pushed bythe detection protrusion(s) is configured to be detected by a controldevice, thereby allowing the control device to determine thespecification of the developer cartridge.

SUMMARY

The inventors of the present application have devised an unprecedentednovel detection gear.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present disclosure to provide adeveloper cartridge provided with a detection gear having a newconfiguration.

In order to attain the above object, a developer cartridge according toan aspect of the disclosure may include: a housing configured toaccommodate developer therein; a first gear rotatable about a first axisextending in an axial direction; and a second gear rotatable about asecond axis extending in the axial direction. The first gear may includea small-diameter gear portion and a large-diameter gear portion having adiameter larger than a diameter of the small-diameter gear portion. Thesecond gear may include: a first columnar portion extending in the axialdirection and centered on the second axis; a second columnar portionextending in the axial direction and centered on the second axis, thesecond columnar portion having a diameter smaller than a diameter of thefirst columnar portion; a first engagement portion extending along aportion of a peripheral surface of the first columnar portion, the firstengagement portion being engageable with the small-diameter gearportion; a second engagement portion extending along a portion of aperipheral surface of the second columnar portion, the second engagementportion being positioned closer to the housing than the first engagementportion to the housing in the axial direction, the second engagementportion being engageable with the large-diameter gear portion; and aprotruding portion protruding in the axial direction and rotatabletogether with the first engagement portion and the second engagementportion. The second engagement portion may be configured to engage thelarge-diameter gear portion after the first engagement portion isengaged with the small-diameter gear portion.

Further, a developer cartridge according to another aspect of thepresent disclosure may include: a housing configured to accommodatedeveloper therein; a first gear rotatable about a first axis extendingin an axial direction; and a second gear rotatable about a second axisextending in the axial direction. The first gear may include asmall-diameter gear portion and a large-diameter gear portion having adiameter larger than a diameter of the small-diameter gear portion. Thesecond gear may include: a first engagement portion extending along aportion of a peripheral surface of the second gear, the first engagementportion being engageable with the small-diameter gear portion; a secondengagement portion positioned closer to the housing than the firstengagement portion to the housing in the axial direction, the secondengagement portion extending along a portion of the peripheral surfaceof the second gear and being arranged at a different position from thefirst engagement portion in a rotation direction of the second gear, thesecond engagement portion being engageable with the large-diameter gearportion after the first engagement portion engages the small-diametergear portion; and a protruding portion protruding in the axial directionand rotatable together with the first engagement portion and the secondengagement portion. A rotational locus defined by rotation of the secondengagement portion may be smaller than a rotational locus defined byrotation of the first engagement portion.

With each of the above-described structures, the detection gear may berotatable while the small-diameter gear portion and the first engagementportion are intermeshed and while the large-diameter gear portion andthe second engagement portion are intermeshed. Accordingly, whencompared to a configuration where the second engagement portion is notprovided, for example, amount of rotation of the detection gear can beincreased, which leads to increase in an amount of movement of theprotruding portion, thereby allowing new product detection andspecification detection to be performed reliably.

According to the present disclosure, there can be provided a developercartridge provided with a detection gear having a novel structure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a developing cartridge(high-capacity-type) according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of components constituting thedeveloping cartridge according to the embodiment;

FIG. 3A is a side view illustrating a developing cartridge(standard-type) according to the embodiment and an actuator of animage-forming apparatus;

FIG. 3B is a simplified diagram illustrating a gear mechanism providedin the developing cartridge according to the embodiment;

FIG. 4A is a left side view of a standard-type detection gear of thestandard-type developing cartridge according to the embodiment;

FIG. 4B is a top plan view of the standard-type detection gear;

FIG. 4C is a right side view of the standard-type detection gear;

FIG. 5A is a left side view of a high-capacity type detection gear ofthe high-capacity type developing cartridge according to the embodiment;

FIG. 5B is a top plan view of the high-capacity type detection gear;

FIG. 5C is a right side view of the high-capacity type detection gear;

FIG. 6A is a left side view of a transmission gear;

FIG. 6B is a top plan view of the transmission gear;

FIG. 7A is a cross-sectional view illustrating a relationship between astandard-type spring-engaging portion and a torsion spring;

FIG. 7B is a cross-sectional view illustrating a relationship between ahigh-capacity-type spring-engaging portion and the torsion spring;

FIGS. 8A and 8B are cross-sectional views illustrating an angle of thestandard-type detection gear at an attachment position;

FIGS. 9A and 9B are cross-sectional views illustrating an angle of thestandard-type detection gear at an inspection position;

FIGS. 10A and 10B are cross-sectional views illustrating an angle of thestandard-type detection gear at an initial position;

FIGS. 11A and 11B are cross-sectional views illustrating an angle of thehigh-capacity-type detection gear at the attachment position;

FIGS. 12A and 12B are cross-sectional views illustrating an angle of thehigh-capacity-type detection gear at the inspection position;

FIGS. 13A and 13B are cross-sectional views illustrating an angle of thehigh-capacity-type detection gear at the initial position;

FIGS. 14A through 14C are cross-sectional views illustrating states ofvarious components when the standard-type detection gear is at theinitial position;

FIGS. 15A through 15C are cross-sectional views illustrating states ofvarious components when a first gear portion of the standard-typedetection gear is intermeshed with a small-diameter gear portion of thetransmission gear;

FIGS. 16A through 16C are cross-sectional views illustrating states ofvarious components when the actuator is separated from an outerperipheral surface of a detection protrusion of the standard-typedetection gear;

FIGS. 17A through 17C are cross-sectional views illustrating states ofvarious components when the first gear portion of the standard-typedetection gear is separated from the small-diameter gear portion of thetransmission gear;

FIGS. 18A through 18C are cross-sectional views illustrating states ofvarious components when a second gear portion of the standard-typedetection gear is intermeshed with a large-diameter gear portion of thetransmission gear;

FIGS. 19A through 19C are cross-sectional views illustrating states ofvarious components when the standard-type detection gear is at a finalposition;

FIGS. 20A through 20C are cross-sectional views illustrating states ofvarious components when the high-capacity-type detection gear is at theinitial position;

FIGS. 21A through 21C are cross-sectional views illustrating states ofvarious components when the first gear portion of the high-capacity-typedetection gear is intermeshed with the small-diameter gear portion ofthe transmission gear;

FIGS. 22A through 22C are cross-sectional views illustrating states ofvarious components when the actuator is separated from the outerperipheral surface of the detection protrusion of the high-capacity-typedetection gear;

FIGS. 23A through 23C are cross-sectional views illustrating states ofvarious components when the first gear portion of the high-capacity-typedetection gear is separated from the small-diameter gear portion of thetransmission gear;

FIGS. 24A through 24C are cross-sectional views illustrating states ofvarious components when the second gear portion of thehigh-capacity-type detection gear is intermeshed with the large-diametergear portion of the transmission gear;

FIGS. 25A through 25C are cross-sectional views illustrating states ofvarious components when the high-capacity type detection gear is at thefinal position;

FIG. 26A is a perspective view of the standard-type detection gear, andFIG. 26B is a perspective view of the high-capacity-type detection gear;and

FIG. 27 is a view illustrating a detection gear according to a variationof the embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Next, a detailed structure of a developing cartridge 8 according to anembodiment of the present disclosure will be described. In the followingdescription, directions are based on the directions indicated in FIG.3A. That is, in FIG. 3A, the right side will be called “front side,” andthe left side will be called “rear side,” the far side in the directionperpendicular to the plane of FIG. 3A will be recalled “right side”, andthe near side in the direction perpendicular to the plane of FIG. 3Awill be called “left side.” With regard to the up-down direction, thevertical direction in FIG. 3A will be used as “up-down direction”.

It should be noted that there are two types with respect to thedeveloping cartridge 8 according to the present embodiment: a standardtype and a high-capacity type. The developing cartridge 8 of thehigh-capacity type can accommodate a larger amount of toner than thedeveloping cartridge 8 of the standard type. Hereinafter, the developingcartridge 8 of the standard type may be referred to as a standard-typedeveloping cartridge 8S, while the developing cartridge 8 of thehigh-capacity type may be referred to as a high-capacity-type developingcartridge 8H, whenever necessary.

Now the detailed structure of the developing cartridge 8 will bedescribed with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 , using the high-capacity-typedeveloping cartridge 8H as an example.

The developing cartridge 8 includes a developing roller 81, a cartridgebody 100 as an example of a housing, a first gear cover 200, a secondgear cover 600, and a detection protrusion 301 exposed outside throughthe first gear cover 200, as an example of a protruding portion. Thedetection protrusion 301 is provided at a detection gear 300 that isrotatable about a second axis CL2 extending in the axial direction. Inthe embodiment, the axial direction coincides with a left-rightdirection.

Note that the high-capacity-type developing cartridge 8H shown in FIGS.1 and 2 is provided with a high-capacity-type detection gear 300H havinga detection protrusion 301H. In contrast, the standard-type developingcartridge 8S is provided with a standard-type detection gear 300S havinga detection protrusion 301S.

As shown in FIG. 3A in which the standard-type detection gear 300S isshown as an example, the detection protrusion 301 includes anarcuate-shaped outer peripheral wall 301A centered on the second axisCL2. The detection protrusion 301 includes a first extension wall 301Bextending radially inward from a first end portion A1 which is one endof the outer peripheral wall 301A. The detection protrusion 301 includesa second extension wall 301C extending radially inward from a second endportion A2 which is another end of the outer peripheral wall 301A. Thefirst end portion A1 is one end of the outer peripheral wall 301A in arotation direction of the outer peripheral wall 301A, and the second endportion A2 is the other end opposite to the first end portion A1 in therotation direction of the outer peripheral wall 301A. The outerperipheral wall 301A, the first extension wall 301B and the secondextension wall 301C are arranged at positions offset from the secondaxis CL2. The first extension wall 301B extends from the first endportion A1 of the outer peripheral wall 301A toward a rotational shaftportion 310 (described later) of the detection gear 300. The firstextension wall 301B is connected to the rotational shaft portion 310 ofthe detection gear 300. The second extension wall 301C extends from theother end of the outer peripheral wall 301A toward the rotational shaftportion 310. The second extension wall 301C is an example of anextending portion, and extends to curve away from the outer peripheralwall 301A of the detection gear 300 while progressing from the secondend portion A2 of the outer peripheral wall 301A toward the rotationalshaft portion 310. More precisely, the second extension wall 301Cextends from the second end portion A2 radially inward and towardupstream in the rotation direction, and the second extension wall 301Ccurves to be convex toward downstream in the rotation direction. Thesecond extension wall 301C is connected to the rotational shaft portion310 of the detection gear 300 described later.

A toner-accommodating portion 84 configured to accommodate toner as anexample of developer is provided inside the cartridge body 100. Anagitator 85 for agitating the toner in the toner-accommodating portion84 is provided inside the cartridge body 100, and a supply roller 83configured to supply the toner to the developing roller 81 is providedinside the cartridge body 100.

The cartridge body 100 includes a first outer surface 100A (see FIG. 2 )and a second outer surface (not shown) opposite the first outer surface100A in the left-right direction. The first outer surface 100A is anouter surface of the cartridge body 100 in the left-right direction. Asshown in FIG. 2 , a boss 155 is provided at the first outer surface 100Aof the cartridge body 100. More specifically, the boss 155 extends inthe axial direction and is provided at a cap 150 which is a separatemember from the cartridge body 100. That is, the boss 155 protrudesrelative to the first outer surface 100A of the cartridge body 100. Thecap 150 is a lid for closing a fill hole 84A that is provided forfilling the toner-accommodating portion 84 with toner.

A gear train including the detection gear 300(300S, 300H) is disposed atthe first outer surface 100A.

Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3B, an input gear 110, adeveloping-roller drive gear 120, a supply-roller drive gear 130, anidle gear 140, the detection gear 300(300S, 300H) as an example of asecond gear, and a transmission gear 400 as an example of a first gearare rotatably provided at the first outer surface 100A. Note that inFIG. 3B, each gear is illustrated in a simplified manner.

The input gear 110 is provided integrally and coaxially with an inputcoupling 101 (see FIG. 3A) that is configured to receive input of adrive force from a motor (not shown) provided in a main body of animage-forming apparatus. The input gear 110 is thus rotatable togetherwith the input coupling 101. The developing-roller drive gear 120 issupported by a rotation shaft 81A of the developing roller 81, and thedeveloping-roller drive gear 120 is therefore rotatable together withthe developing roller 81, and meshes with the input gear 110. The inputcoupling 101 includes a cylindrical portion 102 and a pair ofprotrusions 103. The cylindrical portion 102 has a cylindrical shapeextending in the axial direction. Each of the protrusions 103 protrudesradially inward from an inner circumferential surface of the cylindricalportion 102. Each of the protrusions 103 can engage with anapparatus-side coupling (not shown) provided in the main body of theimage-forming apparatus.

The supply-roller drive gear 130 is supported by a rotation shaft 83A ofthe supply roller 83. The supply-roller drive gear 130 is rotatabletogether with the supply roller 83. The supply-roller drive gear 130 ismeshed with the input gear 110. The idle gear 140 is meshed with theinput gear 110 and the transmission gear 400.

The transmission gear 400 is a gear that is rotatable upon receipt of adrive force from the idle gear 140. The transmission gear 400 isconfigured to transmit the drive force to the detection gear 300(300S,300H) intermittently.

The detection gear 300(300S, 300H) is a gear that is rotatable as longas the detection gear 300(300S, 300H) receives the drive force from thetransmission gear 400. When the developing cartridge 8(8S, 8H) is in aninitial state, the detection protrusion 301(301S, 301H) is positioned atan initial position. When the detection gear 300(300S, 300H) receivesthe drive force from the transmission gear 400, the detection gear300(300S, 300H) starts to move toward its final position. The detectiongear 300(300S, 300H) halts its rotation when the detection gear300(300S, 300H) arrives at the final position.

Hereinafter, the detection gear 300(300S, 300H) will be described indetail.

First, a detailed structure of the standard-type detection gear 300S (or“detection gear 300S”) will be described.

As shown in FIGS. 4A to 4C and FIG. 26A, the detection gear 300Sincludes the above-mentioned detection protrusion 301S, the rotationalshaft portion 310 as an example of a second columnar portion, a flangeportion 320 as an example of a disc portion, a first toothless gearportion 330S, a second rib 340 functioning as a trigger, a secondtoothless gear portion 350S, a first restriction portion 360, aspring-engaging portion 370S, and a cylindrical portion 380. Therotational shaft portion 310 extends in the axial direction, and has acylindrical shape centered on the second axis CL2. The rotational shaftportion 310 is rotatable relative to the cartridge body 100. Therotational shaft portion 310 has a diameter that is smaller than adiameter of the cylindrical portion 380. The diameter of the rotationalshaft portion 310 is smaller than a diameter of a first toothlessportion 331S to be described later. As shown in FIG. 2 , the rotationalshaft portion 310 is rotatably supported by the boss 155 provided at thefirst outer surface 100A of the cartridge body 100. As shown in FIG. 26, the rotational shaft portion 310 has a circumferential surface fromwhich a rib 311 protrudes to be in contact with an end face of a secondgear portion 352S (described later) in the axial direction. As shown inFIG. 4B, the flange portion 320, the first toothless gear portion 330S,and the second toothless gear portion 350S are arranged in the ordermentioned, from the upper side in FIG. 4B (outward in the axialdirection) toward the lower side in FIG. 4B (inward in the axialdirection: toward the cartridge body 100). That is, in the axialdirection, a distance between the first outer surface 100A and the firsttoothless gear portion 330S is larger than a distance between the firstouter surface 100A and the second toothless gear portion 350S. Further,in the axial direction, the distance between the first outer surface100A and the first toothless gear portion 330S is smaller than adistance between the first outer surface 100A and the flange portion320.

The flange portion 320 extends radially outward from a substantiallycenter portion of the rotational shaft portion 310 in the axialdirection. The flange portion 320 is rotatable about the second axisCL2. The flange portion 320 is positioned farther than the firsttoothless gear portion 330S, from the cartridge body 100. The detectionprotrusion 301S is positioned at a surface of the flange portion 320,the surface being opposite to another surface of the flange portion 320facing the cartridge body 100. The detection protrusion 301S is formedto protrude leftward from the surface of the flange portion 320 that isopposite to the other surface of the flange portion 320 facing thecartridge body 100. More precisely, the detection protrusion 301Sprotrudes away from the cartridge body 100 in the axial direction. Thedetection protrusion 301S can rotate together with a first gear portion332S and the second gear portion 352S described later.

The cylindrical portion 380 is an example of a first columnar portion,and has a cylindrical shape extending in the axial direction andcentered on the second axis CL2. The cylindrical portion 380 extendstoward the cartridge body 100 from the other surface of the flangeportion 320 that faces the cartridge body 100. The rotational shaftportion 310 is positioned inside the cylindrical portion 380.

The first toothless gear portion 330S includes the first toothlessportion 331S and the first gear portion 332S. The first toothlessportion 331S includes a plurality of gear teeth. The first toothlessportion 331S includes an outer peripheral surface that forms a generallycylindrical shape. The position of the first gear portion 332S in theaxial direction is the same position as the first toothless portion 331Sin the axial direction. Each of the plurality of the gear teeth of thefirst gear portion 332S protrudes radially outward from acircumferential surface of the cylindrical portion 380. The firsttoothless portion 331S is provided on the circumferential surface of thecylindrical portion 380. The plurality of gear teeth of the first gearportion 332 extends along a portion of the circumferential surface ofthe cylindrical portion 380. The first gear portion 332S is an exampleof a first engagement portion, and is engageable with a small-diametergear portion 450 of the transmission gear 400 described later. As shownin FIG. 4C, the first gear portion 332S includes a third end portion332A and a fourth end portion 332B. The third end portion 332A is an endof the gear teeth of the first gear portion 332S which are positioned atthe most downstream in the rotation direction, while the fourth endportion 332B is another end of the gear teeth of the first gear portion332S which are positioned at the most upstream in the rotationdirection. The third end portion 332A is one end of the first gearportion 332S in the rotation direction of the first gear portion 332S.The fourth end portion 332B is the other end of the first gear portion332S that is opposite the third end portion 332A in the rotationdirection. The fourth end portion 332B positioned upstream in therotation direction of the first gear portion 332S is positioneddownstream of the first extension wall 301B of the detection protrusion301S. The number of gear teeth of the first gear portion 332 differsaccording to the specifications of the developer cartridge 8. In thestandard-type developing cartridge 8S, an angle θ4 between a linesegment L4 connecting the fourth end portion 332B of the first gear 332Sand the second axis CL2 and a line segment L5 connecting the third endportion 332A and the second axis CL2 is set in a range from 73° to 78°.In this embodiment, the angle θ4 is 74°.

Between the first toothless gear portion 330S and the flange portion320, a first protrusion 381 and a second protrusion 382 are provided.Each of the first protrusion 381 and the second protrusion 382 protrudesfurther radially outward relative to tips of the first gear portion332S. The first protrusion 381 is positioned at a position generallyopposite the first restriction portion 360 described later with respectto the second axis CL2. The second protrusion 382 is positioneddownstream of the first protrusion 381 in the rotation direction. Notethat, in the high-capacity-type detection gear 300H, only one firstprotrusion 381 is provided (see FIG. 5C).

As shown in FIG. 4B, the second toothless gear portion 350S ispositioned away from the first toothless gear portion 330S by aprescribed distance downward in the drawing (i.e. rightward). The secondtoothless gear portion 350S includes a second toothless portion 351S andthe second gear portion 352S. The second gear portion 352S includes aplurality of gear teeth. The second toothless portion 351S includes anouter peripheral surface that forms a generally cylindrical shape. Theposition of the second gear portion 352 is the same position of thesecond toothless portion 351 in the axial direction. Each of theplurality of gear teeth of the second gear portion 352S protrudesradially outward from the circumferential surface of the rotationalshaft portion 310. The rotational shaft portion 310 corresponds to asecond columnar portion. The plurality of gear teeth of the second gearportion 352S is an example of a second engagement portion. The pluralityof gear teeth of the second gear portion 352S extends along a portion ofthe circumferential surface of the rotational shaft portion 310. Thesecond toothless portion 351S is provided on the circumferential surfaceof the rotational shaft portion 310. The second gear portion 352S has adiameter that is smaller than a diameter of the first gear portion 332S.In this embodiment, a distance from the second axis CL2 to the tips ofthe gear teeth of the first gear portion 332S is 11.5 mm, whereas adistance from the second axis CL2 to tips of the gear teeth of thesecond gear portion 352S is 6.7 mm.

A rotational locus defined by rotation of the tips of the gear teeth ofthe second gear portion 352S is smaller than a rotational locus definedby rotation of the tips of the gear teeth of the first gear portion332S.

The second gear portion 352S is positioned closer to the cartridge body100 than the first gear portion 332S is in the axial direction (see FIG.2 ), and is engageable with a large-diameter gear portion 440 (describedlater) of the transmission gear 400. The second gear portion 352S ispositioned upstream relative to the first gear portion 332S in therotation direction, and is configured to engage the large-diameter gearportion 440 after the first gear portion 332S engages the small-diametergear portion 450. The second gear portion 352 has a fifth end portion352A and a sixth end portion 352B. The fifth end portion 352A is an endof the gear teeth of the second gear portion 352S which are positionedat the most downstream in the rotation direction. The sixth end portion352B is an end of the gear teeth of the second gear portion 352S whichare positioned at the most upstream in the rotation direction. The fifthend portion 352A is one end of the second gear portion 352S, and thesixth end portion 352B is the other end opposite the fifth end portion352A of the second gear portion 352S in the rotation direction. Thefifth end portion 352A is positioned closer to the fourth end portion332B than the sixth end portion 352B is in the rotation direction. Thestructure of the second gear portion 352 and the positional relationshipbetween the second gear portion 352 and the first gear portion 332 areidentical for both of the standard-type detection gear 300S and thehigh-capacity-type detection gear 300H. More specifically, as shown inFIGS. 4C and 5C, an angle θ3 between by a line segment L4 connecting thefourth end portion 332B (upstream end of the first gear portion 332 inthe rotation direction) and the second axis CL2 and a line segment L3connecting the fifth end portion 352A (downstream end of the second gearportion 352 in the rotation direction) and the second axis CL2 is set ina range from 35° to 41°. Further, an angle θ6 between the line segmentL3 connecting the fifth end portion 352A of the second gear portion 352and the second axis CL2 and a line segment L6 connecting the sixth endportion 352B and the second axis CL2 is set in a range from 28° to 32°.In this embodiment, the angle θ3 is 38°, and the angle θ6 is 29°.

As shown in FIG. 4B, the spring-engaging portion 370S is configured tobe in contact with a torsion spring 500 described later (refer to FIG.7A). The spring-engaging portion 370S is positioned between the firsttoothless gear portion 330S and the second toothless gear portion 350Sin the axial direction. Specifically, the spring-engaging portion 370Sis positioned above and near the second toothless gear portion 350S inFIG. 4B (i.e., leftward relative to the second toothless gear portion350S). As shown in FIG. 4C, the spring-engaging portion 370S protrudesradially outward from the rotational shaft portion 310. Thespring-engaging portion 370 has a length that is greater than a lengthof the second gear portion 352 in the rotation direction. The length ofthe spring-engaging portion 370 is greater than a length of a second rib340 described later in the rotation direction.

More specifically, the spring-engaging portion 370S includes a third rib371S, a fourth rib 372S, and an arcuate-shaped connecting rib 373. Eachof the third rib 371S and the fourth rib 372S protrudes from the outercircumferential surface of the rotational shaft portion 310 in adirection crossing the axial direction. The arc-shaped connecting rib373 connects a radially outer end of the third rib 371S and a radiallyouter end of the fourth rib 372S. The third rib 371S is positioneddownstream of the fourth rib 372S in the rotation direction. In otherwords, the third rib 371S is positioned closer to the second gearportion 352S than the fourth rib 372S is in the rotation direction.

The second rib 340 is positioned at the same position as thespring-engaging portion 370S in the axial direction. The second rib 340is provided at the opposite side of the second axis CL2 from the secondgear portion 352. The second rib 340 is positioned at the outercircumferential surface of the rotational shaft portion 310. The secondrib 340 extends from the outer circumferential surface of the rotationalshaft portion 310 outward in a radial direction of the rotational shaftportion 310 (in a direction crossing the second axis CL2), and is formedin a plate shape (i.e., rib) that extends in a direction intersectingwith the rotation direction. A distal end of the second rib 340 which ispositioned at an outer end of the second rib 340 in the radial directionis positioned radially inward of the circumferential surface of thefirst toothless portion 331S and radially outward of the second gearportion 352S. Specifically, the outer end of the second rib 340 ispositioned substantially at the same position as the outercircumferential surface of the spring-engaging portion 370S in theradial direction.

As shown in FIG. 4B, the first restriction portion 360 protrudes fromthe circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion 380. The firstrestriction portion 360 extends from the cylindrical portion 380, in theaxial direction, to a position near one end of the spring-engagingportion 370S that is close to the flange portion 320. As shown in FIG.4C, the first restriction portion 360 is positioned upstream of thesecond gear portion 352S and downstream of the second rib 340 in therotation direction.

The first restriction portion 360 is positioned at substantially thesame position as the spring-engaging portion 370S in the rotationdirection. The first restriction portion 360 protrudes radially outwardat a position near the outer circumferential surface of thespring-engaging portion 370S such that a distal end of the firstrestriction portion 360 is positioned radially outward of thecircumferential surface of the first toothless portion 331S. A surfaceof the first restriction portion 360, which is positioned upstream inthe rotation direction, is a plane that is substantially orthogonal tothe rotation direction. Another surface of the first restriction portion360, which is positioned downstream in the rotation direction, is asloped surface that slopes radially inward toward downstream in therotation direction.

Next, a detailed structure of the high-capacity-type detection gear 300H(“detection gear 300H”) will be described.

As illustrated in FIGS. 5A to 5C and FIG. 26B, the high-capacity-typedetection gear 300H has almost the same structure with the standard-typedetection gear 300S. Specifically, the high-capacity-type detection gear300H includes the detection protrusion 301H, the rotational shaftportion 310, the flange portion 320, a first toothless gear portion 330H(a first toothless portion 331H and a first gear portion 332H), thesecond rib 340, a second toothless gear portion 350S (a second toothlessportion 351S and a second gear portion 352S), the first restrictionportion 360, a spring-engaging portion 370H, and the first protrusion381.

The high-capacity-type detection gear 300H is different from thestandard-type detection gear 300S in the following respects.

In the detection gear 300H, the fourth end portion 332B of the firstgear portion 332H, which is an upstream end of the first gear portion332H in the rotation direction, is positioned upstream of the firstextension wall 301B of the detection protrusion 301H. An angle θ5between the line segment L4 connecting the fourth end portion 332B ofthe first gear portion 332H and the second axis CL2 and the line L5connecting the third end portion 332A of the first gear portion 332H andthe second axis CL2 is set within a range from 146° to 150°. In thisembodiment, the angle θ5 is 147°.

The spring-engaging portion 370H includes a third rib 371H and a fourthrib 372H. The fourth rib 372H is positioned on the opposite side of thesecond rib 340 from the third rib 371H in the rotating direction. Thethird rib 371H is positioned at substantially the same position as anupstream portion of the second gear portion 352H in the rotationdirection. Further, the fourth rib 372H is positioned on the oppositeside of the second axis CL2 from the third rib 371H. An arcuate wall 341connects the third rib 371H and the second rib 340.

As shown in FIG. 3B, the transmission gear 400 is a gear rotatable aboutthe first axis CL1 extending in the axial direction. The transmissiongear 400 is positioned upstream of and adjacent to the detection gear300 in a transmission direction of the drive force. The transmissiongear 400 is supported by a rotation shaft 85A of the agitator 85 (seeFIG. 2 ) so as to be rotatable together with the agitator 85. As shownin FIGS. 6A and 6B, the transmission gear 400 integrally includes arotational shaft portion 430, a large-diameter gear portion 440, asmall-diameter gear portion 450, and a first rib 460 serving as atrigger. The rotational shaft portion 430 has a substantially hollowcylindrical shape that is centered on the first axis CL1. The first axisCL1 is a rotational axis of the transmission gear 400. In the axialdirection, a distance from the first outer surface 100A to thelarge-diameter gear portion 440 is shorter than a distance from thefirst outer surface 100A to the small-diameter gear portion 450.

The large-diameter gear portion 440 is a gear having a larger diameterthan the small-diameter gear portion 450. The large-diameter gearportion 440 is rotatable about the first axis CL1 together with thesmall-diameter gear portion 450. The large-diameter gear portion 440meshes with the idle gear 140 (see FIG. 3B) to receive the drive forcefrom the idle gear 140. Further, in the initial state of the developingcartridge 8(8S, 8H), the large-diameter gear portion 440 faces thesecond toothless portion 351(351S, 351H) (see FIG. 4C) of the detectiongear 300(300S, 300H). After the drive force is inputted into thedeveloping cartridge 8(8S, 8H), the large-diameter gear portion 440 isconfigured to come into mesh with the second gear portion 352(352S,352H) of the detection gear 300(300S, 300H) at an appropriate timing.

In the initial state of the developing cartridge 8(8S, 8H), thesmall-diameter gear portion 450 opposes the first toothless portion331(331S, 331H) of the detection gear 300(300S, 300H) (refer to FIG.4C). The small-diameter gear portion 450 is configured to come into meshwith the first gear portion 332(332S, 332H) of the detection gear300(300S, 300H) at an appropriate timing after the drive force isinputted into the developing cartridge 8(8S, 8H).

The first rib 460 is formed in a rib-like shape (plate shape) thatextends radially outward (in a direction intersecting with the firstaxis CL1) from a base end portion of the small-diameter gear portion450. A surface of the first rib 460, which faces downstream in therotation direction, is sloped radially outward toward upstream in therotation direction. As shown in FIG. 15B, the first rib 460 functions toengage with the second rib 340 of the detection gear 300(300S, 300H) tocause the detection gear 300 (300S, 300H) to rotate, thereby bringingthe first gear portion 332(332S, 332H) into mesh with the small-diametergear portion 450. The first rib 460 is provided such that a rotationallocus of the first rib 460 overlaps with the rotational locus of thesecond rib 340. In the initial position shown in FIG. 14B, the first rib460 is positioned downstream of and spaced away from the second rib 340in a rotation direction of the transmission gear 400.

As shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the torsion spring 500 is engageable withthe spring-engaging portion 370(370S, 370H) of the detection gear300(300S, 300H) is provided at the cartridge body 100. Note that, inFIGS. 7A and 7B and so on, the gear teeth of the large-diameter gearportion 440 are not illustrated for convenience.

The torsion spring 500 is a torsion coil spring. The torsion spring 500includes a coil portion 501, a first arm 510, and a second arm 520. Thefirst arm 510 extends from the coil portion 501 toward an upper portionof the detection gear 300(300S, 300H). The second arm 520 extends fromthe coil portion 501 toward the rotational shaft portion 310 of thedetection gear 300(300S, 300H). The coil portion 501 includes an axisextending parallel to the second axis CL2. The coil portion 501 ispositioned frontward of the cap 150. A distal end of the first arm 510is in contact with, from above, a spring support portion 151 of the cap150 described later. The second arm 520 extends from the coil portion501 toward the rotational shaft portion 310 and is then bent in such adirection that a distal end of the second arm 520 leaves away from thefirst arm 510. The distal end of the second arm 520 is in contact withthe spring-engaging portion 370(370S, 370H) from its front side. Thefirst arm 510 and the second arm 520 extend so as to intersect eachother.

The torsion spring 500 urges the detection gear 300(300S, 300H) in aclockwise direction in the drawings in a state where the detection gear300(300S, 300H) is at the initial position as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B.In other words, when the detection gear 300(300S, 300H) is at theinitial position, the torsion spring 500 urges the third rib 371(371S,371H) of the detection gear 300(300S, 300H) in a direction opposite therotation direction of the detection gear 300(300S, 300H) that isrotatable upon receipt of the drive force.

The cap 150 includes the spring support portion 151, a restrictingportion 152, a holding portion 153, and a plate-shaped base 154. Thespring support portion 151 supports one end of the torsion spring 500.The restricting portion 152 restricts the detection gear 300(300S, 300H)at the initial position from rotating in the clockwise direction in thedrawing. The holding portion 153 serves to hold the detection gear300(300S, 300H) at a prescribed inspection position at the time ofproduct inspection. As shown in FIGS. 10A and 13A, the restrictingportion 152 is in contact with the first restriction portion 360 of thedetection gear 300(300S, 300H) at the initial position. Specifically,because the torsion spring 500 urges the third rib 371(371S, 371H) ofthe spring-engaging portion 370(370S, 370H) in the clockwise direction(the direction opposite the rotation direction), the first restrictionportion 360 is urged toward the restricting portion 152. Accordingly,the restricting portion 152 restricts movement of the detection gear300(300S, 300H). The detection gear 300(300S, 300H) is thereby held atthe initial position as desired.

The base 154 is positioned at the first outer surface 100A of thecartridge body 100. The spring support portion 151 is a rib protrudingin the axial direction from the base 154. The spring support portion 151extends in a front-rear direction such that the spring support portion151 extends along a shape of the first arm 510 of the torsion spring500. The spring support portion 151 includes a surface opposing therotation shaft 310. The spring support portion 151 also includes anothersurface that is opposite the surface facing the rotation shaft 310 andthat is in contact with the first arm 510 of the torsion spring 500. Therestricting portion 152 protrudes from the base 154 to extend in theaxial direction. The restricting portion 152 extends in an up-downdirection. The holding portion 153 is a rib protruding from the base 154in the rotational axis direction and extending in the front-reardirection. The holding portion 153 has one end that is connected to oneend of the restricting portion 152. The one end of the restrictingportion 152 is closer to the detection gear 300(300S, 300H) than anotherend of the restricting portion 152 is. The holding portion 153 ispositioned to face a circumferential surface of the detection gear300(300S, 300H). A center portion of the holding portion 153 is bent ina direction away from detection gear 300(300S, 300H). The restrictingportion 152 and the holding portion 153 are positioned at the oppositeside of the rotational shaft portion 310 from the spring support portion151. The cap 150 includes the boss 155 that protrudes in the axialdirection from the base 154. The boss 155 rotatably supports therotational shaft portion 310 of the detection gear 300(300S, 300H). Theboss 155 is positioned inside the rotational shaft portion 310 of thedetection gear 300(300S, 300H).

As shown in FIGS. 14A and 25A, the first gear cover 200 includes anarcuate wall 220 that is located radially outward of the detectionprotrusion 301(301S, 301H. The arcuate wall 220 extends to form an arccentered on the second axis CL2. In the final position shown in FIGS.19A and 25A, in both of the standard-type detection gear 300S andhigh-capacity-type detection gear 300H, the detection protrusion301(301S, 301H) is positioned such that the second extension wall 301Cis positioned downstream relative to an upstream end of the arcuate wall220 in the rotation direction.

Next, positions of the standard-type detection gear 300S at the time ofassembly thereof, at the time of product inspection, and at the time ofa brand-new state after completion of production, respectively, will bedescribed.

As shown in FIG. 8A, when assembling the standard-type detection gear300S to the cartridge body 100, an angle of the detection gear 300S isadjusted such that the detection gear 300S is at an attachment positionwhere the first restriction portion 360 is in contact with a base endportion of the holding portion 153. At this time, the restrictingportion 152 and the holding portion 153 hold a posture of the detectiongear 300S in a state where the restricting portion 152 and the holdingportion 153 deflect downward in the drawing. Further, at this time, thetorsion spring 500 is in contact with the rotational shaft portion 310.Accordingly, an urging force of the torsion spring 500 acts toward thesecond axis CL2 (rotational axis) of the detection gear 300S, not in adirection rotating the detection gear 300S. The detection gear 300S istherefore well held at the attachment position. In the attachmentposition, a movement restricting portion 210 (see FIG. 8B) is positionedin a groove 302 (see FIG. 26A) formed in a peripheral surface of thedetection gear 300S. Note that this groove 302 is also formed in aperipheral surface of the detection gear 300H, as shown in FIG. 26B.

Thereafter the first gear cover 200 (see FIG. 3A) is attached to thecartridge body 100 so as to cover the transmission gear 400 and thelike. At this time, because the detection gear 300S is at the attachmentposition described above, ribs or protrusions extending in theleft-right direction from an outer wall of the first gear cover 200 isnot in contact with the detection gear 300S. The first gear cover 200can therefore be easily attached.

After the first gear cover 200 is attached, as shown in FIG. 9A, anoperator rotates the detection gear 300S clockwise. Accordingly, asshown in FIG. 9B, the first protrusion 381 is brought into engagementwith the movement restricting portion 210 formed in the first gear cover200 in the rotation direction. That causes the detection gear 300S tohalt at the inspection position. In the inspection position, the firstrestriction portion 360 is in contact with a distal end of the holdingportion 153 and is held by the holding portion 153.

When the detection gear 300S is held at the inspection position in thisway, the second rib 340 is positioned outside the rotational locus ofthe first rib 460. Hence, the first rib 460 does not engage with thesecond rib 340 even if the drive force is applied to the standard-typedeveloping cartridge 8S during the inspection. As a result, thedetection gear 300S is prevented from rotating erroneously.

After the inspection, as shown in FIG. 10A, the operator slightlyrotates the detection gear 300S counterclockwise in the drawing and thenthe first restriction portion 360 is moved to the right side of therestricting portion 152. The angle (rotation angle) of the detectiongear 300S is thus adjusted such that the detection gear 300S is in itsinitial position where the first restriction portion 360 is in contactwith a right surface of the restricting portion 152 in the drawing.During this operation, the operator can feel some resistance (or aclick) as the first restriction portion 360 moves over the restrictingportion 152, thereby enabling the operator to recognize that thedetection gear 300S has moved close to the initial position. Further,even if the operator rotates the detection gear 300S counterclockwiseexcessively to a position downstream of the initial position, thedetection gear 300S can move back to the initial position due to theurging force of the torsion spring 500 if the operator releases thedetection gear 300S at that position.

Note that when the detection gear 300S is rotated to its final position,the second protrusion 382 is in contact with an upstream surface of themovement restricting portion 210, as indicated by broken lines in FIG.10B. The detection gear 300S is thus held at the final position.

The above described operations for the standard-type detection gear 300Scan generally be applied to the high-capacity-type detection gear 300H,as well, as shown in FIGS. 11A through 13B. Note that, when thehigh-capacity-type detection gear 300H is rotated to its final positionas shown in FIG. 13B, the first protrusion 381 abuts on the upstreamsurface of the movement restricting portion 210, thereby thehigh-capacity-type detection gear 300H being held at the final position.Each of the operational advantages described above with respect to thestandard-type detection gear 300S can also be achieved in thehigh-capacity-type detection gear 300H.

Next, operations of the transmission gear 400 and the detection gear 300when the developing cartridge 8 in a brand-new state is used will bedescribed, by taking the standard-type detection gear 300S of as anexample.

When the standard-type developing cartridge 8S is in its initial state,in other words, when the standard-type developing cartridge 8S is a newproduct, as shown in FIGS. 14B and 14C, the small-diameter gear portion450 of the transmission gear 400 is spaced apart from the first gearportion 332S of the detection gear 300S. Also, the large-diameter gearportion 440 of the transmission gear 400 is spaced apart from the secondgear portion 352S of the detection gear 300S. Because the third rib 371Sof the detection gear 300S is urged clockwise (i.e., in the directionopposite the rotation direction) by the torsion spring 500, thedetection gear 300S is at its initial position. The initial position isan example of a first position. When the detection gear 300S is at theinitial position, the second rib 340 is positioned on the rotationallocus of the first rib 460. Further, when the detection gear 300S is atthe initial position, the first gear portion 332S is positioned outsidethe rotational locus of the small-diameter gear portion 450.

When a drive force is input to the standard-type developing cartridge 8Sin the initial state, the transmission gear 400 rotates clockwise in thedrawing, thereby causing the first rib 460 to rotate clockwise.Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 15B, the first rib 460 is in contact withthe second rib 340 of the detection gear 300S, and the first rib 460presses the second rib 340 downward in the drawing against the urgingforce of the torsion spring 500. The detection gear 300S is therebyrotated by a prescribed amount, and that causes the first gear portion332S of the detection gear 300S to mesh with the small-diameter gearportion 450 of the transmission gear 400 to further rotate the detectiongear 300S as shown in FIGS. 16A to 16C. The position of the detectiongear 300S shown in FIG. 15B is an example of a second position.

Thereafter, as shown in FIGS. 17B to 17C, the large-diameter gearportion 440 of the transmission gear 400 becomes meshed with the secondgear portion 352S of the detection gear 300S after the small-diametergear portion 450 is disengaged from the first gear portion 332S, therebyfurther rotating the detection gear 300S by a prescribed amount. Theposition of the detection gear 300S shown in FIG. 17B is an example of athird position. When the detection gear 300S is positioned at aprescribed position between the second position and the third position,the torsion spring 500 is in contact with the fourth rib 372S of thespring-engaging portion 370S and the torsion spring 500 urges the fourthrib 372S in the rotation direction. Specifically, during a period fromthe upstream end of the first gear portion 33S2 in the rotationdirection reaches the small-diameter gear portion 450 until thedownstream end of the second gear portion 352S in the rotation directionbecomes engaged with the large-diameter gear portion 440, the torsionspring 500 urges the detection gear 300S in the rotation direction. Inthis way, the second gear portion 352S of the detection gear 300S ispressed toward the large-diameter gear portion 440 by the urging forceof the torsion spring 500 after the first gear portion 332S isdisengaged from the small-diameter gear portion 450. Accordingly, thesecond gear portion 352S and the large-diameter gear portion 440 can bereliably meshed with each other.

More specifically, the spring-engaging portion 370S presses the otherend of the torsion spring 500 rightward in the drawings (i.e.,frontward) while the detection gear 300S rotates from the position shownin FIG. 15B to the position shown in FIG. 16B. When the detection gear300S reaches the position shown in FIG. 16B, the torsion spring 500 isin contact with a corner portion of the spring-engaging portion 370S atthe upstream side in the rotation direction. The direction in which thetorsion spring 500 applies the urging force to the spring-engagingportion 370S is thereby changed. Hence, the detection gear 300S is urgedcounterclockwise (i.e., rotation direction) by the torsion spring 500.

Thereafter, as shown in FIGS. 18A to 18C, the detection gear 300S keepsrotating while the second gear portion 352S meshes with thelarge-diameter gear portion 440. When the second gear portion 352Sreleases from meshing with the large-diameter gear portion 440 as shownin FIG. 19C, the detection gear 300S stops at its final position shownin FIGS. 19A to 19C. At this time, the torsion spring 500 is in contactwith the second rib 340 of the detection gear 300S at its upstream endin the rotation direction to urge the detection gear 300S downstream inthe rotation direction. Accordingly, the second protrusion 382 of thedetection gear 300S is pressed toward the movement restricting portion210 as shown in FIG. 10B, thereby the detection gear 300S being held atits final position. The final position is an example of a fourthposition. In the final position (fourth position), the second gearportion 352S is positioned outside the rotational locus of thelarge-diameter gear portion 440.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 17A to 17C, the second gearportion 352S can mesh with the large-diameter gear portion 440 beforethe second extension wall 301C of the detection protrusion 301S is incontact with an actuator 22. With this configuration, because thedetection protrusion 301S can strongly press the actuator 22 uponreceipt of the drive force which is inputted into the detection gear300S from the transmission gear 400, due to meshing engagement betweenthe gear teeth, the actuator 22 can reliably operate.

Note that the above-described operations are also configured to beperformed in a similar manner in the high-capacity-type detection gear300H, as shown in FIGS. 20A to 25C. However, the torsion spring 500operates somewhat differently, as will be described below.

As shown in FIG. 20B, when the high-capacity-type detection gear 300H isin its initial position, i.e., in the first position, the torsion spring500 engages the third rib 371H to urge the third rib 371Hcounterclockwise. Thereafter, as the detection gear 300H starts rotatingclockwise as shown in FIG. 21B, the third rib 371H presses the torsionspring 500 rightward in the drawing against the urging force of thetorsion spring 500.

Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 22B, when the third rib 371H disengagesfrom the torsion spring 500, the torsion spring 500 is then supported byan outer circumferential surface of the arcuate wall 341 connecting thethird rib 371 and the second rib 340. The urging force of the torsionspring 500 is therefore directed toward the center of the detection gear300H. Then, as shown in FIG. 23B, at a timing when the meshing state ofthe transmission gear 400 with the detection gear 300H changes frommeshing between the transmission gear 400 and the first gear portion332H to meshing between the transmission gear 400 and the second gearportion 352H, the torsion spring 500 comes into mesh with the second rib340 from upstream thereof in the rotation direction. As a result,because the torsion spring 500 urges the second rib 340 towarddownstream in the rotation direction, the urging force of the torsionspring 500 assists movement of the second gear portion 352H to reliablybring the second gear portion 352H into mesh with the large-diametergear portion 440.

Thereafter, as shown in FIGS. 24B and 25B, the torsion spring 500 is incontact with an upstream surface of the fourth rib 372H in the rotationdirection to urge the detection gear 300H toward downstream in therotation direction, after the torsion spring 500 is deformed frontwardby the fourth rib 372 of the detection gear 300. Accordingly, as shownin FIG. 13B, the first protrusion 381 of the detection gear 300H ispressed toward the movement restricting portion 210 so that thedetection gear 300H is held in the final position.

The detection protrusion 301(301S, 301H) is used to enable a controldevice (not shown) to determine whether the developing cartridge 8(8S,8H) is a new cartridge and/or to identify specifications of thedeveloping cartridge 8(8S, 8H). Hereinafter, new product determinationand/or specification identification according to the embodiment will bebriefly described.

When the developing cartridge 8(8S, 8H) is a new cartridge, thedetection protrusion 301(301S, 301H) is in its initial position as anexample of the first position shown in FIG. 14A. When this developingcartridge 8(8S, 8S) (new cartridge) is attached to the image-formingapparatus, the outer peripheral wall 301A of the detection protrusion301(301S, 301H) can be in contact with the actuator 22 that is pivotablyprovided in the main body of the image-forming apparatus. That is, thedetection protrusion 301(301S, 301H) includes a first portion 301D thatis in contact with the actuator 22 provided in the main body of theimage-forming apparatus when the detection gear 300 is at the initialposition (first position). As shown in FIG. 3A, when the outerperipheral wall 301A of the detection protrusion 301(301S, 301H) abutson the actuator 22, the actuator 22 is pivoted rearward. As an opticalsensor (not shown) detects this pivoting of the actuator 22, the controldevice (not shown) can determine that the developing cartridge 8(8S, 8H)is attached to the main body of the image-forming apparatus.

Incidentally, the rearward pivoting of the actuator 22 may be detectedeither by: detecting that the optical sensor detects an ON signal as aresult of the rearward pivoting and displacement of the actuator 22 thatwas positioned between a light-emitting element and a light-receivingelement; or by detecting that the optical sensor detects an OFF signalas a result of shutting off of light attributed to the rearward pivotingof the actuator 22. In the following description, detection of therearward pivoting of the actuator 22 is assumed to be performed bydetecting that the optical sensor detects the ON signal.

Thereafter, an image-forming operation is initiated by the image-formingapparatus and the drive force is inputted into the developing cartridge8(8S, 8H), as shown in FIGS. 15A and 20A, the detection protrusion 301Sis pivoted counterclockwise in the drawing. As the detection protrusion301(301S, 301H) rotates and the outer peripheral wall 301A of thedetection protrusion 301(301S, 301H) disengages from the actuator 22, asshown in FIGS. 16A and 22A, the actuator 22 is urged, by an urging forceof a spring (not shown) that urges the actuator 22 toward its normalposition (the position indicated by phantom lines in FIG. 3A), to moveinto a space between the first extension wall 301B and second extensionwall 301C and the actuator 22 returns to the normal position. Theoptical sensor thus detects the OFF signal.

Subsequently, after the actuator 22 is pushed rearward by the secondextension wall 301C of the detection protrusion 301(301S, 301H) as shownin FIGS. 18A and 24A, the actuator 22 is supported again by the outerperipheral wall 301A as shown in FIGS. 19A and 25A. The optical sensortherefore once again detects the ON signal. In other words, thedetection protrusion 301(301S, 301H) includes a second portion 301E thatis in contact with the actuator 22 provided in the main body of theimage-forming apparatus when the detection gear 300(300S, 300H) is atthe final position (fourth position). Thus, when a signal from theoptical sensor changes from the ON signal to the OFF signal and then tothe ON signal after the drive force is inputted into the developingcartridge 8(8S, 8H), the control device determines that the attachedstandard-type developing cartridge 8(8S, 8H) is a new cartridge.

Further, when the detection protrusion 301(301S, 301H) moves to thefinal position as an example of the fourth position where the outerperipheral wall 301A once again supports the actuator 22, the detectiongear 300(300S, 300H) is disengaged from the gear disposed upstream ofthe detection gear 300(300S, 300H) (namely, from the gear disposedupstream in a direction of transmission of the drive force). Thedetection protrusion 301(301S, 301H) is thereby maintained at the finalposition. Accordingly, when a developing cartridge 8(8S, 8H) that hasbeen used once is attached to the main body of the image-forming device,the outer circumferential surface 301A of the detection protrusion301(301S, 301H) in its final position presses the actuator 22 rearward,thereby the optical sensor detecting the ON signal. Even when animage-forming operation is initiated thereafter and the drive force isinputted into the developing cartridge 8(8S, 8H), the detectionprotrusion 301(301A, 301H) does not move out of the final position andtherefore the signal of the optical sensor after the input of the driveforce into the developing cartridge 8(8S, 8H) keeps the ON signal. Inthis case, the control device determines that the mounted standard-typedeveloping cartridge 8(8S, 8H) is old (used once or more).

Further, the gap (angle) from the first extension wall 301B of thedetection protrusion 301(301S, 301H) to the second extension wall 301Cin the rotation direction is determined according to the specificationof the developing cartridge 8(8S, 8H). Therefore, when the opticalsensor detects the OFF signal for a first time duration, the controldevice can determine that the mounted developing cartridge 8 is astandard-type cartridge 8S that can accommodate a standard amount oftoner in the cartridge body 100. Alternatively, when the optical sensordetects the OFF signal for a second time duration that is longer thanthe first time duration, the control device determines that the mounteddeveloping cartridge 8 is the high-capacity-type developing cartridge 8Hthat can accommodate a greater amount of toner than the standard-typedeveloping cartridge 8S.

Specifically, in case of the standard-type developing cartridge 8S shownin FIG. 4A, the gap between the first extension wall 301B and the secondextension wall 301C of the detection protrusion 301S is a prescribedfirst distance. In other words, referring to FIG. 4A, the angle betweenthe line segment L1 connecting the first end portion A1 of the outerperipheral wall 301A of the detection protrusion 301S and the secondaxis CL2 and the line segment L2 connecting the second end portion A2 ofthe outer peripheral wall 301A of the detection protrusion 301S and thesecond axis CL2 is a first angle θ1. This first angle θ1 for thedetection gear 300S may be set, for example, in a range from 97° to 99°.In this embodiment, the first angle θ1 is 98°.

In contrast, in case of the high-capacity-type developing cartridge 8Hshown in FIG. 5A, the gap between the first extension wall 301B andsecond extension wall 301C of the detection protrusion 301H is a seconddistance that is larger than the first distance. In other words,referring to FIG. 5A, the angle between the line segment L1 and the linesegment L2 for the detection gear 300H is a second angle θ2 that islarger than the first angle θ1.

The second angle θ2 for the detection gear 300H may be in a range, forexample, from 188° to 190°. Note that, contrary to the presentembodiment, the angle for the detection gear 300S may be set to thesecond angle θ2, while the angle for the detection gear 300H may be setto the first angle θ1. In this embodiment, the second angle θ2 is 189°.

According to the above configuration, following technical advantages canbe obtained.

The detection gear 300(300S, 300H) is rotatable while the small-diametergear portion 450 meshes with the first gear portion 332(332S, 332H) andthe large-diameter gear portion 440 meshes with the second gear portion352(352S, 352H). With this structure, compared to a case where thedetection gear 300 were not provided with the second gear portion 352,the detection gear 300(300S, 300H) of the present embodiment can rotatea larger amount, which makes the detection protrusion 301(301S, 301H)move a larger amount to realize more reliable new product detectionprocess and/or specification detection process. Note that a rotationspeed of the detection gear 300(300S, 300H) can change at a timing thatthe meshing between the small-diameter gear portion 450 and the firstgear portion 332(332S, 332H) is swished to the meshing between thelarge-diameter gear portion 440 and the second gear portion 352(352S,352H). This change in speed may be utilized to perform the new productdetection process and/or specification detection process.

The second gear portion 352(352S, 352H) meshes with the large-diametergear portion 440 before the second extension wall 301C of the detectionprotrusion 301(301S, 301H) is in contact with the actuator 22. With thisstructure, the detection gear 300(300S, 300H) can be suppressed fromrotating in a reverse direction by the urging force of the actuator 22after the first gear portion 332(332S, 332H) becomes unmeshed with thesmall-diameter gear portion 450.

The torsion spring 500 urges the detection gear 300(300S, 300H)downstream in the rotation direction until the downstream end of thesecond gear portion 352(352S, 352H) in the rotation direction mesheswith the large-diameter gear portion 440 after the upstream end of thefirst gear portion 332(332S, 332H) in the rotation direction reaches thesmall-diameter gear portion 450. Hence, after the first gear portion332(332S, 332H) becomes unmeshed with the small-diameter gear portion450, the urging force of the torsion spring 500 can reliably bring thesecond gear portion 352(352S, 352H) into mesh with the large-diametergear portion 440.

Because the torsion spring 500 urges the first restriction portion 360of the detection gear 300(300S, 300H) toward the restricting portion152, the detection gear 300 can be held reliably at the initialposition.

The torsion spring 500 engages with the spring-engaging portion370(370S, 370H) that is positioned between the first gear portion332(332S, 332H) and the second gear portion 352(352S, 352H) in the axialdirection. This structure can suppress the detection gear 300(300S,300H) from being inclined due to the urging force of the torsion spring500 and therefore prevent the first gear portion 332(332S, 332H) and/orthe second gear portion 352(352S, 352H) from coming out of mesh.

At the final position, the second extension wall 301C of the detectionprotrusion 301(301S, 301H) is positioned downstream relative to theupstream end of the arc-shaped wall 220 of the first gear cover 200 inthe rotation direction (see FIGS. 19A and 25A). This structure canprevent a gap from being formed between the second extension wall 301Cof the detection protrusion 301(301S, 301H) and the upstream end of thearc-shaped wall 220 in the rotation direction at the final position.Accordingly, with this structure, the actuator 22 in contact with thedetection protrusion 301(301S, 301H) can be suppressed from gettingstuck in the gap.

The present disclosure is not limited to the depicted embodiment, butmany modifications and variations may be made therein as describedbelow.

In the depicted embodiment, the present disclosure is applied to thelaser printer 1. However, this disclosure is not limited to the laserprinter, but may be applied to an image-forming apparatus of any othertype, such as a copier and a multifunction device.

In the depicted embodiment, the present disclosure is applied to thedeveloping cartridge 8, but the present disclosure is not limitedthereto. For example, if a developing device including a developingroller is provided separately from a toner cartridge having atoner-accommodating section, the present disclosure may be applied tothe toner cartridge.

In the embodiment described above, the drive force is transmittedthrough the gear teeth from the transmission gear 400 to the detectiongear 300(300S, 300H). The present disclosure is not limited to thisconfiguration, however, but a friction member, such as a rubber or asponge, may be used in place of the gear teeth. For example, as shown inFIG. 27 , in place of the first gear portion 332, a first frictionmember 333 may be provided along a portion of the first toothlessportion 331 so as to be frictionally engageable with the small-diametergear portion 450; and in place of the second gear portion 352, a secondfriction member 353 may be provided along a portion of the secondtoothless portion 351 so as to be frictionally engageable with thelarge-diameter gear portion 440. Similarly, the gear teeth of thetransmission gear may be replaced by a friction member.

In the embodiment described above, the detection protrusion 301(301S,301H) is formed integral with the detection gear 300(300S, 300H), butthe present disclosure is not limited to this configuration. Forexample, the detection protrusion may be a separate member from thedetection gear, and may be a resin film or a plate-shaped rubber.

In the embodiment described above, the detection protrusion 301(301S,301H) has an arcuate shape. However, the present disclosure is notlimited to this configuration. For example, the detection protrusion maybe configured of two separate detection protrusions provided to bespaced apart from each other in the rotation direction.

In the embodiment described above, the cap 150 supports the detectiongear 300(300S, 300H). However, the present disclosure is not limited tothis configuration. Instead, for example, the detection gear 300 may besupported by a component that is provided separately from the cartridgebody 100 and that is other than the cap 150. In this case, a fill holemay be may be formed in a side wall of the cartridge body 100 oppositeto a side wall at which a gear train including the detection gear300(300S, 300H) is arranged.

In the embodiment described above, the boss 155 supporting the detectiongear 300(300S, 300H) protrudes from the cap 150. However, thisdisclosure is not limited to this configuration. For example, the boss155 may be formed integral with the cartridge body 100.

In the embodiment described above, the torsion spring 500 is used as thespring. The present disclosure is not limited to this configuration, butthe spring may be, for example, a coil spring, a leaf spring or a resinmember having resiliency.

In the embodiment described above, the cylindrical portion 380 and therotational shaft portion 310 are hollow members. However, the disclosureis not limited to this configuration. Instead, the cylindrical portionand the rotational shaft portion may be solid members. A portion of therotational shaft portion 310 that corresponds to the second toothlessportion 351 may be partially cut out. Further, a portion on the surfaceof the cylindrical portion 380 that corresponds to the first toothlessportion 331 may be cut out. That is, the cylindrical portion 380 mayhave an arcuate shape.

While the detection gear 300(300S, 300H) is configured to mesh with thetransmission gear 400 supported by the agitator 85, the detection gear300(300S, 300H) may be so configured to mesh with the idle gear 140.

The second extension wall 301C may not be connected to the rotationalshaft portion 310. Further, a plurality of bosses may be arranged inplace of the second extension wall 301C to function as the secondextension wall 301C.

While the disclosure is described in detail with reference to thespecific embodiments thereof while referring to accompanying drawings,it would be apparent to those skilled in the art that many modificationsand variations may be made therein without departing from the scope ofthe disclosure.

What is claimed is:
 1. A developing cartridge comprising: a developingroller rotatable about a first axis extending in a first direction; ahousing configured to accommodate developer therein; a couplingrotatable about a second axis extending in the first direction andpositioned at one side of the housing in the first direction; a gearrotatable about a third axis extending in the first direction from afirst rotational position to a second rotational position and from thesecond rotational position to a third rotational position, the gearbeing rotatable in accordance with a rotation of the coupling, the gearbeing positioned at the one side of the housing in the first direction;and a protrusion movable in accordance with a rotation of the gear,wherein the protrusion moves at a first speed in a case where the gearrotates from the first rotational position to the second rotationalposition, wherein the protrusion moves at a second speed in a case wherethe gear rotates from the second rotational position to the thirdrotational position, and wherein the second speed is different from thefirst speed.
 2. The developing cartridge according to claim 1, whereinthe coupling rotates at the same speed when the gear rotates from thefirst rotational position to the second rotational position and when thegear rotates from the second rotational position to the third rotationalposition.
 3. The developing cartridge according to claim 1, furthercomprising: an input gear formed integrally and coaxially with thecoupling.
 4. The developing cartridge according to claim 3, furthercomprising: a developing roller drive gear supported by a rotation shaftof the developing roller, wherein the developing roller gear meshes withthe input gear.
 5. The developing cartridge according to claim 3,further comprising: a supply roller rotatable about a fourth axisextending in the first direction; and a supply roller drive gearsupported by a rotation shaft of the supply roller, wherein the supplyroller drive gear meshes with the input gear.
 6. The developingcartridge according to claim 1, wherein the protrusion is positioned atthe one side of the housing in the first direction.
 7. The developingcartridge according to claim 1, wherein the protrusion is formedintegral with the gear.
 8. The developing cartridge according to claim1, further comprising an agitator configured to agitate the developer inthe housing.
 9. The developing cartridge according to claim 8, furthercomprising a second gear rotatable about a second-gear axis extending inthe first direction and meshing with the gear, the second gear beingrotatable in accordance with the rotation of the coupling, wherein thesecond gear is supported by a rotation shaft of the agitator.
 10. Thedeveloping cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the second speed isfaster than the first speed.
 11. A developing cartridge comprising: adeveloping roller rotatable about a first axis extending in a firstdirection; a housing configured to accommodate developer therein; acoupling rotatable about a second axis extending in the first direction,the coupling being positioned at one side of the housing in the firstdirection; a gear rotatable about a third axis extending in the firstdirection, the gear being rotatable in accordance with a rotation of thecoupling; and a protrusion movable in accordance with a rotation of thegear, wherein a speed of the protrusion changes from a first speed to asecond speed after the gear rotates a predetermined angle, and whereinthe first speed is different from the second speed.
 12. The developingcartridge according to claim 11, wherein the gear rotates at the samespeed when the speed of the protrusion changes.
 13. The developingcartridge according to claim 11, further comprising: an input gearformed integrally and coaxially with the coupling.
 14. The developingcartridge according to claim 13, further comprising: a developing rollerdrive gear supported by a rotation shaft of the developing roller,wherein the developing roller gear meshes with the input gear.
 15. Thedeveloping cartridge according to claim 13, further comprising: a supplyroller rotatable about a fourth axis extending in the first direction;and a supply roller drive gear supported by a rotation shaft of thesupply roller, wherein the supply roller drive gear meshes with theinput gear.
 16. The developing cartridge according to claim 11, whereinthe protrusion is positioned at the one side of the housing in the firstdirection.
 17. The developing cartridge according to claim 11, whereinthe protrusion is formed integral with the gear.
 18. The developingcartridge according to claim 11, further comprising: an agitatorconfigured to agitate the developer in the housing.
 19. The developingcartridge according to claim 18, further comprising a second gearrotatable about a second-gear axis extending in the first direction andmeshing with the gear, the second gear being rotatable in accordancewith the rotation of the coupling, wherein the second gear is supportedby a rotation shaft of the agitator.
 20. The developing cartridgeaccording to claim 11, wherein the second speed is faster than the firstspeed.